List of Biosphere Reserves in India

A biosphere reserve is an ecosystem with plants and animals of unusual scientific and natural interest. The International Co-ordinating Council (ICC) of UNESCO introduced the designation of ‘Biosphere reserve’ for natural areas in November, 1971. After their designation, biosphere reserves remain under national sovereign jurisdiction, yet they share their experience and ideas nationally, regionally and internationally within the World network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).

Biosphere Reserves in India

1. Achankamar- Amarkantak

Location: Covers parts of Anupur and Dindori districts of Madhya Pradesh and parts Bilaspur districts of Chhattisgarh.

2. Agasthyamalai

Location:  Neyyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries and their adjoining areas in Kerala.

3. Cold Desert

Location: Pin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber Wildlife in Himachal Pradesh.

4. Dehang- Debang

Location: Part of Siang and Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh.

5. Dibru- Saikhowa

Location: Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts (Assam)

Project Tiger Reserves of India

6. Great Nicobar

Location: Southern most islands of Andaman & Nicobar.

7. Gulf of Mannar

Location: Indian part of Gulf of Mannar between India and Srilanka (Tamil Nadu)

8. Kachchh

Location: Part of Katchchh, Rajkot, Surendra Nagar and Patan Civil Districts of Gujarat State.

9. Khang Chendzonga

Location: Parts of Khang Chenzonga hills and Sikkim.

10. Manas

Location:  Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamprup and Daran districts (Assam)

Elephant Reserves of India

11. Nanda Devi

Location: Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh and  Bageshwar districts (Uttarakhand)

12. Nilgiri

Location:  Part Wayanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Madumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley and Siruvani hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka)

13. Nokrek

Location: Part of Garo Hills (Meghalya)

14. Seshachalam Hills

Location:  Covering parts of Chittor and Kadapa districts of  Andhra Pradesh

15. Simlipal

Location: Part of Mayurbhanj district (Orissa)

16. Sunderban

Location:  Part of delta of Ganges and Brahamaputra river system (West bengal)

General Knowledge Lists

List of Biosphere Reserves in India

The National Biosphere Reserve Programme in India was initiated in 1986 to serve as wider base for conservation of entire range of living resources and their ecological foundations in addition to already established protected area network system. It is this ecological diversity that makes India as one of the mega-diversity regions on the globe. Efforts are on to designate at least one Biosphere Reserve in each of the Bio-geographic Province.

Environment & Ecology: A Complete Study Material

Imgae source: www.cpreec.org

Date Source: www.unesco.org ; and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Govt. of India)